Hints  for  the  Study 

OF 

“The  Fight  for  Peace” 

This  leaflet  of  suggestions,  questions,  and  topics  is  pre- 
pared for  use  by  classes^  studying  the  “Fight  for  Peace.” 

That  this  study  may  be  valuable  and  interesting  to  all, 
each  member  of  the  class  should  read  by  way  of  preparation 
the  chapter  for  the  day.  The  student  will  find  it  helpful  to 
mark  his  book  both  for  the  outline  of  the  chapter  and  for 
striking  passages.  During  the  preliminary  reading  questions 
and  topics  that  suggest  themselves  should  be  noted. 

The  class  leader  should  ask  three  or  four  members  a week 
or  more  in  advance  to  prepare  themselves  to  discuss,  in  not 
more  than  five  minutes,  some  single  topic  or  proposition  con- 
nected with  the  lesson  of  the  day.  When  the  appointed  speak- 
ers have  completed  their  remarks  let  the  class  enter  upon 
voluntary  discussion  of  the  subject  matter  of  the  chapter, 
each  speaker  being  limited  to  a single  point  and  occupying 
not  more  than  three  minutes. 

The  leader  might  ask  individuals  what  they  think  of  this 
point  or  that  assertion. 

Reserve  ten  minutes  at  the  close  for  a summary  by  the 
class  leader.  Let  him  not  merely  summarize  the  chapter  but 
also  the  reaction  of  the  class  upon  the  same. 

Possibly  the  leader  might  prepare  in  advance  a brief  writ- 
ten summary  and  find  out  whether  or  not  the  class  supports 
his  statement. 

The  class  leader  should  have  for  supplementary  material 
a copy  of  the  source  book,  published  by  the  Federal  Council 
of  the  Churches,  entitled  “Select  Quotations  on  War  and 
Peace.”  The  reading  to  the  class  of  pregnant  sentences  from 
the  many  authors  quoted  in  this  source  book  would  add  much 
to  the  value  of  the  study.  For  a convenient  and  not  too  ex- 


tensive  bibliography  of  peace  literature  see  the  appendix  of 
“The  Peace  Makers’  Manual.” 

Each  church  should  procure  the  “Model  Peace  Makers’ 
Library,”  described  in  the  appendix  of  the  “Peace  Makers’ 
Manual,”  and  each  member  of  the  class  might  well  be  asked 
to  familiarize  himself  with  the  contents  of  at  least  one  of  the 
volumes  and  be  prepared  to  tell  the  class  the  position  taken 
by  its  author  upon  any  particular  question  that  arises  in  the 
discussions. 


SUGGESTIVE  TOPICS  AND  QUESTIONS 

CHAPTER  I. 

1.  What  are  the  main  elements  of  the  new  era  of  human 
history  ? 

2.  Show  how  all  past  human  development  has  been  pre- 
dominantly divergent.  What  are  the  main  causes  of  the  origin 
and  differences  of  races  and  civilizations? 

3.  Is  the  fundamental  characteristic  of  the  new  era  to 
be  “convergent  evolution”?  Of  civilizations?  Of  races? 

4.  Describe  Japan’s  synthesis  of  the  two  great  streams 
of  civilization — that  of  the  East  and  that  of  the  West. 

5.  What  other  important  elements  of  the  new  era  need 
consideration  besides  those  described  in  this  chapter?  (e.  g. 
world  trade ; world  finances ; world  postal  system ; world 
news  and  telegraphic  system;  etc.) 

6.  Describe  the  New  Asia  and  show  how  this  introduces  a 
new  factor  into  international  relations. 


CHAPTER  II. 

1.  Distinguish  the  primary  from  the  secondary  causes 
of  the  European  tragedy. 

2.  Is  over-population  in  Europe  a real  cause  of  the  present 
war? 


3.  Is  developing  national  and  racial  self-consciousness  a 
vital  factor  in  the  European  situation?  What  reconstruction 
in  governmental  procedure  does  this  require? 

4.  Describe  the  militaristic  theory  of  national  evolution. 

5.  Does  might  ever  make  right?  Does  right  ever  justify 
use  of  might? 

6.  Is  the  rejection  gf  Christian  faith  by  large  masses  of  the 
educated  classes  one  of  the  causes  of  the  European  tragedy? 


CHAPTER  III. 

1.  Sketch  the  history  of  the  Peace  Movement — its  origin, 
its  aims,  and  its  efforts. 

2.  What  Peace  Congresses  have  been  held  at  the  Hague 
and  with  what  results? 

3.  Distinguish  the  principal  varieties  of  peace  advocates 
and  describe  their  characteristic  arguments  and  emphases. 

4.  Does  Christian  Pacifism  necessarily  demand  immediate 
disarmament  ? 

5.  What  are  the  essential  elements  of  Golden  Rule  Inter- 
nationalism? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

1.  State  the  paradox  of  Christendom  at  war. 

2.  Name  three  causes  for  the  failure  of  the  churches  to 
establish  permanent  peace  between  the  nations  of  Christendom. 

3.  Name  three  other  causes. 

4.  Are  there  other  fundamental  causes  for  the  failure  of 
the  churches  of  Christendom  to  overcome  the  militaristic 
theory  and  practice  of  so-called  Christian  nations? 

5.  Is  it  the  duty  of  the  Church  to  grapple  with  militarism  ? 
If  so,  who  is  responsible  for  beginning  and  carrying  on  this 
work? 


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CHAPTER  V. 


1.  Describe  the  first  vision  (p.  5).  Is  it  a reality?  Are 
empires  and  nations  actually  seeking  to  establish  their  places 
in  the  world  through  force?  fraud?  etc. 

2.  Is  this  first  vision  and  effort  confined  to  kings  and 
emperors?  How  about  the  rank  and  file  of  men? 

3.  Describe  the  Second  Vision  (p.  6).  Have  men  in 
the  past  and  are  there  men  now  really  guided  by  the  vision? 
Name  some. 

4.  Is  the  vision  of  Golden  Rule  Internationalism  utterly 
vain  and  foolish  (cf.  p.  8). 

CHAPTER  VI. 

1.  How  may  each  local  church  take  an  effective  part  in 
establishing  and  maintaining  world  righteousness  and  world 
peace  ? 

2.  What  responsibility  do  individual  Christians  have  in 
these  matters? 

3.  Criticise  the  suggestions  of  this  chapter. 

4.  Describe  the  Peace  Makers’  Movement  of  the  American 
Branch  of  the  World  Alliance  of  Churches  for  Promoting 
International  Friendship  (cf.  The  Peace  Makers’  Manual). 

5.  What  suggestions  have  you  for  increasing  the  efficiency 
of  the  Peace  ^Makers’  ^Movement? 

CHAPTER  VII. 

1.  What  is  the  peculiar  danger  to  democracies  in  their 
international  relations  ? 

2.  How  are  democracies  to  be  educated  and  directed? 

3.  Describe  what  is  being  done  for  peace  education  by  the 
School  Peace  League.  Get  facts  from  its  office  (40  Mt.  Vernon 
Street,  Boston). 

4.  Find  out  and  describe  what  is  being  done  in  the  Sunday 
schools  in  the  line  of  peace  education. 

5.  Find  out  how  many  churches,  women’s  clubs,  or  other 
organizations  are  making  a definite  study  of  the  peace  question. 


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CHAPTER  VIII. 


1.  Give  a brief  sketch  of  recent  Mexican  history.  Have 
.Americans  been  helpful  to  Mexico,  or  have  they  been  exploit- 
ing it  for  selfish  ends  ? 

2.  What  has  been  the  attitude  of  the  various  classes  of 
Mexicans  toward  Americans?  If  distrustful  and  controlled 
by  animosity,  why  ? 

3.  Describe  the  five  suggestions  of  this  chapter  for  winning 
Mexican  confidence  and  good-will. 

4.  Are  they  practicable?  What  are  the  objections? 

5.  Suggest  still  other  ways  for  winning  Mexican  friendship. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

1.  Sketch  recent  history  of  American  relations  with  China. 
Name  the  striking  points  of  our  helpfulness. 

2.  Describe  our  treatment  of  Chinese  in  United  States, 
(cf.  Professor  M.  R.  Coolidge’s  Chinese  Immigration). 

3.  Describe  our  treaty  with  China  and  the  way  in  which 
we  have  not  observed  it. 

4.  State  the  judgment  of  the  Supreme  Court.  Should  that 
which  is  morally  wrong  be  accepted  as  good  law? 

5.  Describe  the  new  China  and  what  it  implies  for  the 
future  in  world  politics. 

6.  What  is  the  essence  of  our  Asiatic  problem? 

7.  What  are  the  principal  suggestions  of  the  chapter  as  to 
a solution? 

8.  What  other  suggestions  have  you  to  offer? 


CHAPTER  X. 

1.  Sketch  Japan’s  recent  history,  particularly  her  trans- 
formation since  1868. 

2.  Describe  the  essential  features  of  Japan’s  complaint  of 
.American  treatment. 


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3.  What  was  the  view  of  Senator  Root? 

4.  Describe  and  criticise  California’s  alien  land  law. 

5.  What  is  meant  by  the  “White  Peril”?  Is  it  a reality? 

5.  What  is  meant  by  the  “Yellow  Peril”?  Is  it  a reality? 
(cf.  The  American  Japanese  Problem,  by  Sidney  L.  Gulick, 
Chapter  XII-XV). 

6.  How  are  Asia’s  teeming  millions  to  be  raised  in  eco- 
nomic moral  and  religious  life? 


CHAPTER  XI. 

1.  What  are  the  laws  governing  biological  assimilation  and 
inheritance? 

2.  What  are  the  laws  governing  social  or  psychological 
assimilation  and  inheritance? 

3.  State  these  two  kinds  of  assimilation  and  their  laws  in 
the  clearest  possible  contrast. 

4.  Is  either  kind  of  assimilation  dependent  on  the  other? 

5.  Give  concrete  illustrations  from  personal  knowledge  (cf. 
also  the  American  Japanese  Problem). 

6.  What  will  Christians  with  race  prejudice  do  in  heaven? 


CHAPTER  XII. 

1.  Describe  the  immigration  policy  proposed  in  this 
chapter ; 

(1)  The  Limitation  of  Immigration. 

(2)  The  Registration  of  Aliens. 

(3)  The  Education  of  Aliens. 

(4)  The  Naturalization  of  Aliens. 

2.  What  legislation  is  needed  for  the  federal  care  of  aliens, 
and  why?  Describe  Mr.  Taft’s  proposals  and  the  reasons  he 
gives. 

3.  What  effect  would  the  proposed  legislation  have  on  our 
relations  with  Japan  and  China? 


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CHAPTER  XIII. 

1.  Is  the  yellow  press  a real  menace  or  only  an  irritating 
nuisance  ? Why  ? 

2.  Compare  the  evils  of  a press  absolutely  free  with  those 
of  a muzzled  press. 

3.  Do  we  have  a really  free  press  now? 

4.  Do  we  have  real  and  honest  newspapers,  or  only  organs 
for  the  creation  of  definite  kinds  of  public  opinion  ? 

5.  Consider  the  suggestions  offered  for  securing  a more 
wholesome  press.  Are  they  practicable? 

6.  Do  you  have  other  suggestions  ? 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

1.  Name  some  of  the  suggestions  as  to  ways  for  producing 
international  good-will. 

2.  Criticise  them. 

3.  Suggest  other  ways  of  winning  good-will  from  those 
nations  that  are  inclined  to  distrust  us. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

1.  Sketch  the  history'  of  Protestant  missions  in  China  and 
Japan  (cf.  Encyclopedia  of  Missions). 

2.  How  have  Christian  missions  been  furthered  by  treaty 
guarantees  ? 

3.  Describe  the  check  to  Christian  missions,  due  to  invasion 
from  Christendom  of  her  materialistic  science,  agnostic 
philosophy  and  evil  practices. 

4.  Describe  the  paradox  of  Christian  interest  in  foreign 
missions  with  the  indifference  of  the  churches  to  international 
relations  that  are  un-Christian. 


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CHAPTER  XVI. 


1.  Decribe  the  types  of  pacificists. 

2.  Is  a Christian  of  necessity  a Tolstoian  pacifist?  If  not. 
why  not  ? 

3.  Should  the  churches  of  America  advocate  disarmament 
by  the  United  States  regardless  of  the  state  of  the  rest  of  the 
world  ? 

4.  What  are  the  dangers  of  increased  military  prepared- 
ness— to  ourselves — to  our  neighbors? 

5.  Should  we  demand  to  know  definitely  who  are  our 
dangerous  neighbors  and  prepare  against  them? 

6.  Consider  other  kinds  of  preparedness  than  military  and 
naval  expansion ; e.  g.,  ways  that  make  our  neighbors  trust 
and  admire  us. 


CHAPTERS  XVII  AND  XVIII, 

1.  Sketch  the  history  and  circumstances  of  the  establish- 
ment of  the  World  Alliance  for  Promoting  International 
Friendship  (cf.  The  Peace  Makers’  Manual). 

2.  What  is  the  special  contribution  that  the  churches  alone 
can  make  to  the  establishment  of  world  peace? 

3.  Can  peace  ever  be  established  by  means  that  are  easy, 
and  that  cost  little  or  nothing? 

4.  Are  members  of  this  class  ready  to  volunteer  for  the 
war  upon  war ; to  drill  and  work  and  suffer  as  followers  of 
the  Prince  of  Peace? 


